Meat exports from east Africa to the Gulf have collapsed as the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupts transport and drives up shipping costs, dealing a blow to pastoral economies during their peak Ramadan trading period.
Kenya, which is a big exporter of meat from the region, has seen shipments to the Middle East fall to as little as 5 per cent of normal levels at Ramadan, according to the country’s Meat and Livestock Exporters Industry Council. About 40-60 per cent of that goes to the United Arab Emirates — meaning even shortlived disruptions quickly reverberate.
“There are no planes to carry the cargo,” said Abdirahman Abdi, co-owner of livestock exporter Najib. “Livestock exports have also been affected as there is excess supply in the market and no ready off-takers.”